The Doors Collection (Collector's Edition)

The Doors Collection (Collector's Edition)
by Ray Manzarek, Rick Schmidlin

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DVD details

Actor: Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Kerry Humpherys, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger
Director: Ray Manzarek, Rick Schmidlin
Brand: Universal
DVD: 2 Layers, Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 172 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-04-13
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios

DVD Reviews of The Doors Collection (Collector's Edition)

DVD Review: This Is the One To Have
Summary: 5 Stars

In this review, I comment on this collection's three components separately, but I recommend the entire collection enthusiastically. This is not only because I think it is great, but because there is so much material. Perhaps you will find there is something you do not like, but you will find plenty to enjoy.

Dance on Fire: The viewer is laced by lead singer Jim Morrison's magnetism and a dark background as the promo video for "Break on Through" starts things off. Later come the Doors' three most prominent TV appearances: on the shows of Ed Sullivan, Jonathan Winters, and The Smothers Brothers. Morrison's poise is solid on all three. The misty visuals for "Moonlight Drive" on the Winters show are great. Morrison sang "higher" in "Light My Fire" after Ed Sullivan's censors had told him to change it to "better" for their show. Contrary to what is shown in the movie "The Doors," he sings "higher" softly the first time, but he then does sing it loudly in the climax. "L.A. Woman" is infused with striking colorful scenes of Los Angeles; an Indian boy dances in "Wild Child"; and a great collage supports the anti-war message of "The Unknown Soldier." Those who love "The Crystal Ship" can see Jim by the shore and also swimming in the river with a lady to an overdub of this pretty song. Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek directed "Dance on Fire," the best of the three components here.

Live at the Hollywood Bowl: A dark backdrop envelopes the audience in this large venue as all lighting surrounds the Doors. Jim Morrison has a commanding presence at the mike, and great posture, and he dances and moves around the stage with his own kind of grace. His vest is yellow, his leather pants are brown, and his large western belt buckles shine. John Densmore's drums, as Densmore himself points out, are "mod orange." Those who like Doors long cuts can enjoy good versions of "The End," "When the Music's Over," and "Light My Fire." However, I can do without the full intro to "The Celebration of the Lizard" especially if, like here, it is not followed by "Not to Touch the Earth" (the only really good part of that theater piece). The theatrics of "The Unknown Soldier" are great, with Morrison dropping to the stage, writhing in agony, after Robby Krieger "shoots" him with his guitar. That makes up for the song's closing instrumental motif sounding too much like "My Eyes Have Seen You" Redux.

The Soft Parade: This includes a substantial amount of material from the 1969 PBS television show hosted by rock critic Richard Goldstein, just before the album "The Soft Parade" was released. The Doors discuss rock music, but Jim's delivery has shortcomings. Shown here are the show's performances of "Wishful Sinful," "Build Me a Woman," and the finale, "The Soft Parade," on which a bearded Jim moves around with intensity. Separately, a different video of "Wild Child" has the group rehearsing the song in the studio. "The Changeling" is supported by a video collage showing the group in informal and formal moments.

Audio commentary: Krieger, Densmore, and Manzarek provide commentary for all three sections. They sometimes discuss the footage, including activity during performance, outfits, instruments, venues, the songs, and the general environment. At other times, they tell anecdotes and vignettes about many topics: e.g., the ejection from Whisky a Go Go after Morrison's indiscretion performing "The End," being signed by Elektra President Jac Holtzman, playing at The Ondine Club in New York City, and the Miami incident. Among their lesser known stories is the group's being sued for plagiarism in "Spanish Caravan"; Robby says he thought the riff was so generic (always played) that he did not imagine a French copyright would kick in.

Bonus materials: Self-driven Doors enthusiast Kerry Humpherys narrates for the viewer through a great visual display of Doors memorabilia. Manzarek's two student films from UCLA are also part of the presentation. Both star his soon-to-be wife, Dorothy Fujikawa, and in "Induction" one gets a brief glimpse of Morrison in a party scene. Moreover, there are excerpts from Densmore's solo play on his life with the Doors, "Riders on the Storm." Finally, Krieger does a guitar-only version of "The End," helped by a percussionist and, on bass, Arthur Barrow, who has sometimes played with Robby in his solo career. Word to the Wise: If you own the three VHS's, you may not think the bonus materials justify a purchase of this CD unless you are a hard-core Doors person. Well, perhaps together with the audio commentary they do.

DVD Review: The Doors Collector's edition
Summary: 5 Stars

Music of the past remain kicking and refreshing. Well copied and preserved. CD well packaged and delivered on time
History remain available and well preserved.
Thank you for keeping the greatest music around and available to share with the new generations to come.

DVD Review: Jim Morrison is THE Icon!
Summary: 5 Stars

Anyone who is a fan of the Doors HAS to include this DVD in their collection. It is very well organized and has a "special feature" narration by the remaining members of the Doors. This collection also features some songs I had not heard before and, of course, all of their hit songs. The DVD is presented in three sections--chronological order--with an excellent bonus collection section.

DVD Review: The Doors Collection
Summary: 5 Stars

The Doors Collection is The Doors, all Doors and nothing but.
A must for any true fan and lifelong devotee.

DVD Review: GREAT
Summary: 4 Stars

I got this for my boyfriend for Christmas. He is a Doors fan. If you are, I think you'll love this DVD.

Description of The Doors Collection (Collector's Edition)

This amazing collection features dance on fire live at the hollywood bowl and the soft parade plus commentary by members of the doors. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 07/30/2002 Run time: 172 minutes Rating: Nr

If you are a new or original fan of the Doors, this spectacular DVD should give you enough incentive to jump on the DVD bandwagon without reservation. It's quite simply the finest single audio-visual source of Doors music and history, presented with the full participation of the band's surviving members (Ray Manzarek, Robbie Krieger, John Densmore) and featuring a variety of bonus features that will send any Doors-phile into a state of rock & roll euphoria. We're not kidding, folks--this is a must-have disc for anyone who's ever been mesmerized by Jim Morrison and the late-1960s, early-'70s rock phenomenon known as the Doors.

The primary content consists of three acclaimed films, all running about an hour long and directed by Manzarek, that give the viewer a deeper appreciation of what the Doors were all about. Not only was the band filmed in a variety of live concert settings (especially at the legendary Hollywood Bowl show, included here), but they were also precociously aware of the value of film, creating music "videos" long before MTV and taking their cue from Manzarek's mid-'60s stint as a UCLA film student. Also included are clips from several TV appearances (including a PBS interview in which Morrison predicts the future of recording technology with astounding accuracy), revealing backstage footage, and, of course, some of the most hypnotic concert performances ever filmed.

Two of Manzarek's student films (Evergreen and Induction) indicate that the keyboardist could easily have become a successful director, but fate blessed him (and us) with a future in one of America's all-time greatest rock bands. What The Doors Collection conveys more than anything is that these four young men formed a unique cohesion of talent, that they all loved and admired Jim Morrison (and still do), and that they continue to share that love--along with some conflicting recollections and amiably contrasting opinions--on a commentary track that's wise, fun-loving, and refreshingly free of drippy nostalgia. Indeed, when Manzarek uses the word "atrocious" to describe Oliver Stone's 1991 film about Morrison and the band, he's merely defending the fact that Morrison was himself a sweet, lovable young man who had a dark side--no one's denying that--but who also fronted a band that continues to unite listeners and viewers in the positive spirit of creativity and freedom of expression. --Jeff Shannon

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